Raccoons

We found these two raccoons in our backyard, no mom around. They both seemed to look kind of curious, and kind of nervous. My daughter said she likes this picture because the outline of their bodies makes the outline of a heart.

Cheetahs

Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa. Perhaps only 12,000 of these big cats remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers.

Puffins

A puffin couple on Skomer Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, U.K. Puffins are small seabirds that come to Skomer Island between March and April to nest and breed. When the chicks can finally fend for themselves, they leave the island between July and August.

Sea Lions

While diving near the coast of Santa Barbara Island in California, a group of sea lions surrounded me and started to play with my camera and strobes. This couple was particularly interested by their reflection on the dome port of my underwater housing.

Red Foxes

Recently, a red fox has been hunting in the marsh behind my condo on the Connecticut shoreline. I've seen her during the early morning hours when I walk my dog and on my way to work. I thought it strange to see a traditionally circumspect creature in such a public venue. These two are the explanation, it turns out. She and her two kits (featured here) have a den within the boulders of the seawall by the town docks. Every day they become more curious of their enraptured audience, us.

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.

Lions

Photograph by Neal Lillis, Your Shot

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Headcorn, Kent, England, is home to three African lion brothers. The brothers were born at Woburn Safari Park before being moved to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation. The Wildlife Heritage Foundation is a U.K.-based charity for the protection and preservation of big cat species.

Here one of the lions grooms his brother after they had finished eating.

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.

King Penguins

These king penguins were part of a breeding colony photographed in the Falkland Islands, their spectacular coloration on full display. I liked the intimacy portrayed between an adult male and female in the moment.

Elephant Seals

As a volunteer for The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, I often times see all kinds of animal behavior. This was taken on a release in the Point Reyes National Seashore. These two Northern Elephant Seal pups were orphaned and abandoned by their mother. The Marine Mammal Center responded to the call and picked them up, emaciated and dehydrated. Volunteers rehabilitate them, and release them back to the wild. Today was a happy day for the seals, and for me as a photographer.

Orangutans

Cium saya = kiss me in Indonesian. This picture of Borneo orangutans was taken at Singapore Zoo just right after we took some pictures with them. The female (right) was carrying her baby in her arms, so I assumed that the male (left) was her husband. Just like us, animals do rely on their partners to survive in the world. It makes me think that if they can be so passionate to each other, as a human why can't we?